Late-night blaze burns 200 shops near Birati station, goods worth lakhs damaged

A massive fire broke out at the Birati Jadubabu Market near Birati Station in North 24 Parganas during the early hours of Monday, turning the year-end festive mood into a nightmare for local traders. The blaze was first noticed around 1:30 AM and, aided by strong night winds, it spread rapidly through the densely packed stalls. Seven fire engines were rushed to the spot, but firefighters faced significant challenges due to the extremely narrow approach roads leading into the market area.

The constraints were so severe that fire tenders could not enter the market directly. In a desperate move, officials parked the engines on the nearby flyover and used long hoses to douse the flames from above. While the main blaze was brought under control by Tuesday morning, firefighters continued to battle "pocket fires" and thick white smoke. The cause of the fire remains unknown, though a short circuit is suspected. Preliminary assessments suggest that nearly 200 shops have been reduced to ashes.

The timing of the disaster has been particularly devastating. With the year-end festivities in full swing, many shops were stocked with fresh merchandise and significant amounts of cash. Traders arrived on Tuesday morning to find their livelihoods destroyed, with goods and currency notes turned into nothing but burnt paper. "Everything we built is gone in a single night," lamented an eyewitness trader who watched the market get engulfed within minutes before the fire brigade could arrive.

Local residents expressed relief that the fire did not spread to the surrounding heavily populated residential buildings, which could have resulted in a massive loss of life. However, for the affected business owners, the damage is estimated to be worth several lakhs of rupees. As the fire department launches a formal investigation into the safety lapses and the origin of the sparks, the traders are left staring at a long and uncertain road to recovery.